SUMMARY
Mayi Mayi Mazembe was a loose network of armed groups operating in the Nord Kivu Province of DR Congo (Zaire). The group, named after one of the country’s most popular football clubs from Lubumbashi, consisted of members from the Nande and Kobo ethnic groups. Mayi Mayi Mazembe was formed in September 2015 by Marungu Magua under the name of UPDI (Union des patriotes pour la défense des innocents, Union des Patriotes pour la Défense des Innocents) with an aim of protecting the Nande and Kobo communities against FDLR attacks. The group cooperated closely with NDC-R. Some members of the UPDI network even merged with NDC-R in April 2016, other parts of the group remained autonomous. The UPDI members that joined NDC-R moved to their headquarters in Irameso, while the autonomous part of the movement remained in Miriki, renaming itself Mayi Mayi Mazembe. In May 2017 a conflict appeared between NDC-R and the Mayi Mayi Mazembe led by “General” Muhindo Kitete Bushu. As other Mayi Mayi groups in DR Congo Mazembe used dawa to protect themselves from enemy fire. In August 2018 FPP/AP led by Kasereka Kasyano also known as Kabido splintered from Mayi Mayi Mazembe after disagreeing on how to handle NDC-R.
Mayi Mayi Mazembe was led by Marungu Muliro Magua until his death on 14 April 2016 then he was replaced with Albert Kasheke, important leaders within the group were “Colonel” Augustin Kambale,“General” Muhindo Kitete Bushu, Kasereka Kabidon until the splinter in 2018 and Safari Buligho.
NDC-R (Nduma Défense du Congo - Rénové, Reformed Nduma Defence of Congo) was formed as a splinter faction from NDC in July 2014 after NDC deputy commander Guidon Shimiray Mwissa had accused Sheka Ntabo Ntaberi of embezzlement. NDC-R members were mainly ethnic Nyanga. NDC-R was headquartered in Irameso in Walikale territory. The main objective of NDC-R was to fight against FDLR and then integrate into the national army of DR Congo (FARDC) but they were also involved in the mining business.
NDC-R grew from an estimated strength at between 300 and 600 elements in 2016 to a force of 1000 to 1250 men in 2018. NDC-R closely cooperated with UPDI/Mayi Mayi Mazembe in its fight against FDLR. Some parts of UPDI joined NDC-R in 2016. NDC-R has also been supported by parts of the Congolese army in its military campaigns. After the split of APCLS in 2018 NDC-R allied themselves with the splinter faction APCLS-R.
NDC-R was led by Guidon Shimiray Mwissa and Colonel Jean Claude Kamutoto. Guidon Shimiray Mwissa was part of Mayi Mayi in the 1998-2003 war and was part of the integration into the national army that followed upon the Final Peace Agreement. Mwissa defected from the army in 2007 and joined a small Mayi Mayi called Forces Divines Simba for a year before becoming part of NDC. Guidon Shimiray Mwissa surrendered to the government in August 2021.
